Published 6:30 am, Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Bruce Matthews, left, and Mike Munchak, right, are so close they presented each other at their Hall of Fame inductions in Canton, Ohio.

Bruce Matthews, left, and Mike Munchak, right, are so close they presented each other at their Hall of Fame inductions in Canton, Ohio.

Photo: Tony Dejak, AP

Munchak's Titans expected to hire Texans' Matthews

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Texans offensive assistant Bruce Matthews is expected to be hired as the Tennessee Titans’ new offensive line coach, possibly as early as Wednesday.

Matthews spent the last two seasons working with the Texans’ offensive line, but the opportunity to work with his former teammate and best friend, new Titans’ head coach Mike Munchak, was too good to pass up.

Two people who are familiar with the situation confirmed Tuesday that Munchak is hiring Matthews.

Barring unforeseen complications, Matthews also will coach his son, center Kevin Matthews, who spent most of his rookie season on the Titans’ practice squad.

Munchak, the Oilers’ first-round pick in 1982, and Matthews, their first-round pick in 1983, are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They’re so close they presented each other at their inductions in Canton, Ohio.

The Titans informed the Texans on Tuesday they planned to interview Matthews. Because Matthews hadn’t signed the new contract he agreed on two weeks ago, the Titans didn’t have to get permission to interview him.

Meanwhile, the Titans informed the University of Texas on Tuesday they plan to interview Longhorns defensive backs coach Jerry Gray for their defensive coordinator job. Gray is the leading candidate to get the job.

Like Matthews, Gray used to play and coach with Munchak, who’s in his 30th year with the organization.